Grilled Strawberries & Black Pepper Ice Cream

Grilled strawberries? Black pepper ice cream? These flavors might seem a bit unconventional to you but trust us, you’re going to love them! Preparing strawberries on the grill brings out a whole new flavor profile that is both savory and subtly sweet, and adding black pepper to the vanilla ice cream will pair perfectly. Grilled Strawberries and Black Pepper Ice Cream makes such an easy yet sophisticated snack or dessert that would make an excellent addition to your next cook-out. Friends and family will definitely be impressed!

Grilled Strawberries & Black Pepper Ice Cream

Servings 6servings

Ingredients

Black Pepper Ice Cream

1½pintspremium vanilla ice cream

1½Tbspmedium ground black pepper

Port Syrup

½cupruby port

¼cupsugar

Cocoa Wafers

1/4cupsugar

3Tbspbutter

2Tbspunsweetened cocoa powder

¼tspvanilla extract

Grilled Strawberries

Pinchsalt

1/3cupall-purpose flour

12fresh rosemary skewers

24fresh California strawberriesstemmed and halved

Instructions

To make Black Pepper Ice Cream:

Place ice cream in refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until slightly softened. Gently stir in pepper. Place in freezer until firm.

To make Port Syrup:

In saucepan, simmer port and sugar until reduced to 1/3 cup. Chill.

To make Cocoa Wafers:

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in cocoa, vanilla and salt; when smooth, mix in flour just until incorporated. If needed, add up to 2 teaspoons of water to make firm but pliable dough.

Form dough into a flat disc between 2 pieces of plastic wrap; chill.

Roll chilled dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to 3/8-inch thickness. With sharp knife or cookie cutter, cut into leaf shapes about 3 inches long. Place on parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake in 325°F oven 10 to 12 minutes or just until set; wafers will firm as they cool.